Serve out: East Coast Challenge canceled because of Irma

Jensen Beach's volleyball team will not get to try for a third consecutive East Coast Challenge title after the this weekend's tournament was canceled because of uncertainty in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.(Photo: JEREMIAH WILSON/TCPALM)Buy Photo

One of the Sunshine State's most prestigious high school volleyball tournaments will not be played this season.

Uncertainty over Hurricane Irma-related issues forced the cancellation of the 16-team East Coast Challenge set for Friday and Saturday at Martin County and Jensen Beach high schools.

"Us alone, we've got kids scattered from Orlando to Alabama," Martin County athletic director Mark Cowles said. "There's so much of the unknown. Even though we escaped significant damage compared to other spots in Florida, there's a lot of stress out there."

Gas shortages in some areas of the state may have made it difficult for some players to return in time. Many residents from coast to coast remain without power.

Hours after Cowles confirmed the tournament's cancellation, public schools in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties announced they would remain closed through Friday.

The tournament, which has been played every year since its debut in 2000, has long been a measuring stick for teams with Final Four aspirations.

Thirteen of 16 previous ECC champions advanced to the Final Four, with seven winning state titles.

Last year's tournament drew two teams from Alabama, another from West Virginia and eight schools from Palm Beach County. Palm Beach public schools also are closed through Friday.

A total of 124 high school events — from Sept. 6 through Saturday — have been postponed or canceled because of Hurricane Irma.

The East Coast Challenge is one of four tournaments involving area teams to be canceled. Area volleyball teams were scheduled to play in the Key West Showcase last weekend and the Winter Park Showcase and Cardinal Mooney Invitational in Sarasota this weekend.

Jensen Beach, which won the past two East Coast Challenges, lost its second consecutive regular-season tournament. Hurricane Matthew's brush against the Treasure Coast 11 months ago prevented the Falcons from competing in the Dig Pink tournament in Orlando.

"It just threw us so out of rhythm that we didn't recover," Jensen Beach coach Mike Sawtelle said. "We were 19-0 and we went 2-3 the rest of the season. The tournament was (to be) our last preparation before the playoffs."

Jensen Beach (7-0) likely would not have its full roster this weekend. Sawtelle said "a few" of his players remained out of state after their families evacuated as Irma approached.

Cowles plans to replace as many of the canceled events as possible.

"The district games and matches will come first but we will try to come close to the maximum number of games as possible," Cowles said.

Martin County had one window blown out of the visiting press box at Bob Collins Stadium and a small piece dislodged from one lane of the track, Cowles said.

Crespo plans to check Central's athletic facilities on Wednesday, but is confident none of the Cobras' outdoor equipment was damaged.

"We chain down all our equipment to this pad that was constructed when they built the school," Crespo said. "It's cement and it has hooks on it. So everything should be secure."

Pine School will reopen Wednesday with Knights athletic teams having the option to resume practice, according to athletic director Matt Sofarelli.

St. Edward's plans to resume classes and athletics Thursday, according to a message on its website. The Pirates have a volleyball match Thursday at Trinity Christian School in Lake Worth. The football team will host Legacy Charter at 7 p.m. Friday.

By next week, things should be much closer to normal.

"The kids want that normalcy. Everybody does," Crespo said. "But you've got to take care of whatever — the power/electric, your family — first. And we have to be concerned about safety."

EVENTS POSTPONED BECAUSE OF IRMA

A total of 124 high school events have been postponed from Sept. 6 through Saturday because of Hurricane Irma. Here is the breakdown, by sport: